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STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
Meningitis (acute)
Seven cases were notified. There were four deaths.
Poliomyelitis
No cases of poliomyelitis were reported in the borough during the year.
Public Health (Ships) Regulations 1966/8 (Aircraft) Regulations 1966
Port Authorities notified 33 persons as arriving from declared cholera and
smallpox endemic areas without valid certificates of vaccination.
These people were kept under surveillance for the statutory period and in
no case did they develop cholera or smallpox.
Disinfection
Sections 166-168
Public Health Act 1936
Local authorities have the power to provide a disinfecting station and to
arrange for the cleansing and disinfection of premises and articles.
Generally, in cases of infectious disease, terminal disinfection of rooms and
contents can be satisfactorily effected by a thorough " spring cleaning
Sometimes, however, it is deemed necessary to take more rigorous action,
and in such cases — of which five occurred in the course of the year —
premises are subjected to treatment with formaldehyde.
At the Council's disinfecting station, steam is used to disinfect clothes,
bedclothing and the like; while articles liable to be damaged by steam, e.g.
library books, are treated with formaldehyde.
Items treated included thirty garments, 235 library books, and 120 miscellaneous
items. Used clothing, consisting of 238 separate items, was treated
for despatch abroad to those countries which require certification that
treatment has been effected.
No charge is made by the Council for these services.
References to other work undertaken at the disinfecting station are contained
in the item " Disinfestation " in this report.
Public Health
Laboratory
Service
The Public Health Laboratory Service at Whipps Cross Hospital, London,
E.11, is available for the examination of bacteriological specimens.
For the convenience of general practitioners and the public, several
specimen collection boxes are positioned at various points throughout the
borough. The specimens are collected from the boxes daily and delivered
to the laboratory.
Throughout the year we have continued to enjoy the invaluable service and
assistance of the Director, Dr. Thom, and his staff.
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